Jamie

Jamie started the topic Tip for aligning tubes in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 6 months ago

Hi
I have found it useful to place a pen mark at 10cm intervals along the edges of the seam joints that are about to be sealed. That way you can match up the two pieces of fabric quite easily by aligning the marks on each piece of fabric as you go along and ensure that both ends of the seam are perfectly aligned.
I am also finding it easier if I…[Read more]

Jamie replied to the topic Valve hack in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 8 months ago

Bottle top valve installed in a seat. Some bottle tops (like this one from a Badoit sparkling water bottle) have a slightly lower profile. The valve is absolutely airtight without the screw top on, but deflates easily when the flap is pushed in with a finger tip. Works better than I thought. No going back now – I prefer this to the Boston valves…[Read more]

Jamie replied to the topic Valve hack in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

Also a good light weight valve for the seat or inflatable floor, with the added benefit of the inflation bag adapter (mentioned earlier) fitting all valves.

Jamie started the topic Valve hack in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

Here’s an alternative to a Boston valve. Works well with the inflation bag adapter (see my earlier post). Good airflow, and the valve creates an airtight seal. Only weighs 11g.

Cut the top off a carbonated drinks bottle, just below the flange. Sand the bottom flat.

Sandwich between a couple of discs of nylon with TPU coating on both sides,…[Read more]

Jamie started the topic Inflation bag – update in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

I’ve been playing around with different materials for a way to secure the inflation bag to a Boston valve. The best material I have found is some plastic from a spiral bound folder. It is flexible but fairly rigid, and virtually in breakable. With the hole cut to the right diameter, it just pushes over the thread of the Boston valve without…[Read more]

Jamie started the topic What paddles? in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

Just wondering what paddles are recommended for the DIY packrafts?

thanks.

Jamie replied to the topic An improved tie down in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

I was thinking of using plastic D-rings instead of a loop made of webbing. These could be secured to the packraft in a similar way to the above.

Jamie started the topic Inflation bag in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

Hi

Here’s a suggestion for an inflation bag that I’m working on. The bag is made out of cuben fibre (this stuff is expensive but super light and strong; I had a rectangular scrap left over from a previous project). The valve solution I have come up with is this: a rubber disc/washer about 2mm thick, with the diameter of the hole roughly 20mm, and…[Read more]

Jamie replied to the topic Alternative to airtight zipper in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

The Neo Air has a short internal tube made of a thin plastic film, which is bonded to the rim of the outer tube opening that is part of the shell. The internal tube acts as a valve (similar to the type of valve on some disposable inflatable pillows), whereby the internal pressure causes the valve to close up, thus providing an airtight seal. Maybe…[Read more]

Jamie replied to the topic Alternative to airtight zipper in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Thanks – I take your point about the difficulty in getting an airtight seal. I have made air bladders out of TPU film (rather than TPU coated nylon). The material is stretchy and kind of clings to itself, so it wasn’t difficult to create an airtight seal. Maybe I’ll try and bond a tube of this stuff to the TPU coating…[Read more]

Jamie started the topic Alternative to airtight zipper in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 9 months ago

Hi

just an idea I thought I’d share to see if anyone had tried this out….

instead of fitting an airtight zipper, I was thinking of installing an opening either on the side or a seam of the packraft, with a tube of fabric (basically two rectangles sealed to each other on two opposite sides to form a tube, then seal one open end of the tube to…[Read more]

@jamiem